We all have those times in our lives where we look around and feel like our life is falling apart. Things haven't worked out the way we have wanted them to, life just seems to be an uphill battle with people and things pushing you down on the way. But during our trying times we are meant to look to the Lord because He is where our strength comes from.
John 14:1
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.”
Do not worry about things that the Lord already has control over. Trust that He has your life and that He has you where you are for a reason, and do not worry. He will guide you and give you direction all you need to do is pray and surrender to Him.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
A major part of our relationship with The Lord is going to home, openly and honestly and being honest about our fears, pains and worries. Even though He knows everything, the act of us going before Him and telling Him our problems allows for us to have a closer relationship to Him. Also how amazing is it that all we have to do is present our problems to the Lord and He will give us rest. This does not always mean that He will take our problems away but it does mean that He will give us peace and understanding this hard time.
Proverbs 16:9
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
So many times in our lives we plan out what we want in life based on the desires we have. However, a life with the Lord cannot be like that. Yes we have these desires because they are promises from the Lord that He will fulfill. He does not give us a promise that He will finish. However, because the Lord has promised us something, this does not mean that it will be in our timing, it may be later in our lives or when we least expect it.
Psalm 16:8
“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
When you put the Lord as the number one thing in your life and put Him before everything else, things will work out. This doesn’t mean that because you are putting the Lord first you will get what you want but it means that when life gets hard He will give you peace. He will give you the understanding that there is a reason for this trial and for this stress and He will give you the peace to get through the trial.
Matthew 6:25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Once again, reiterating the fact that worrying doesn’t change the situation. That worrying just ends up with strains on you and on your relationships with others and the Lord. The Lord sustains everything in the world; and learning to be dependent on Him, like the birds, helps us grow stronger in the tougher situations in life.
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Finally, this verse gives us our commands on how to live life from the Lord. That we need to live our lives with strength and courage and without fear. This is only found in the Lord, and can only be found by spending time with Him daily. And the Lord is with us always, no matter what, even when we cannot feel His presence there. Your identity is in the Lord and that is that you are strong, courageous, fearless and confident in the future plans even if you do not know them.
